Electronic book cover

ABSTRACT

The electronic book cover is made of a thick board which is strategically adapted to support an electronic device, such as a calculator or MP 3  player. A cutout in the board receives the electronic device, and it is securely bolstered to the main block of book pages. The board is completely covered by an elastic skin, except in an opening where the device displays visual information. The cover also includes a keypad, labeled with various characters and symbols, which can be pressed to initiate the processing of preprogrammed functions by the electronic device. A layered switch circuit lies underneath the soft keypad and is comprised of two distinct layers: the first dielectric film layer has rows and columns of checkered conductive sections facing inward towards the book cover, and the second dielectric film layer has a pattern of disconnected electric contacts at locations facing the conductive sections and is superimposed in the keypad.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the bookbinding field; it is a bookcover with an electronic device embedded within it, such as acalculator.

B. Description of the Prior Art

Bookbinding functions to secure individual leaflets of paper, valuablewritings, and/or drawings together, allowing for the extendedpreservation of such materials. Binding is also used to createpresentations and organize valuable documents. Fast-setting glues andbinding spines are utilized to create copies of books, blank journals,notebooks, and various types of personal planners.

Electronic media was subsequently invented to enhance to convenience ofthese items. Personal digital assistant (PDA) devices can selectivelystore and view information through a user interface, which oftenincludes a display device and keypad for input. Electronic calculatorsand organizers are classified as primitive forms of personal electronicdevices because of their ability to process numerical calculations andstore retrievable personal data. The accessibility and affordability ofsuch devices greatly contributes to the universal nature of modernelectronics. Calculators can now be manufactured on a single IC chip andare thus frequently integrated into common devices such as cellularphones. The embedded calculators can take advantage of the existingkeypad and display interfaces on the cellular phone. The improvedintegration of additional memory devices and processors allows for therealization of various functions in thinner form factor within theelectronic environment.

An attempt to integrate traditional and current portable devices wasmade in U.S. Pat. No. 4,096,577, which outlines a simple checkbook witha calculator on its upper flap. More recently, a planner notebook wasmarketed to include a thin, clip-shaped calculator accessory. Thesedevices, along with similarly designed products, use thin electronicdevices in order to take up minimal space around the books or journals.However, it is important to note that the electronic devices are nothingmore than additional attachments to the original product.

There is currently a demand for an appropriate way to combine abookbinding and electronic device in a method wherein productive synergyis created, benefiting the overall functionality of the compact handhelddevice.

The present invention, in its most fundamental form, provides a bookcover with a universal calculator embedded within the binding. The useof bookbinding ensures that the electronic device maintains itsadherence to the book, and the two cannot be separated under anycircumstance. The basic principle of present invention can be alsoapplied to other modern compact media devices, such as mini MP3 players.It simply provides a seamless convergence of analog printed matter anddigital multimedia so that the user can experience both physical andvirtual functions of the device. Furthermore, the previously discussedbook cover allows a user to experience the digital creations of otherswhile simultaneously producing his own work on the same journal.

According to the present invention, an electronic device with active andpassive components (such as IC chips, processors, capacitors, switchesand LCD displays) and an interactive keypad surface are added to thetraditional bookbinding process. Thus, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide a book cover and an electronic device which areunited by a binding component, creating a book with added entertainmentor creative functionality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The electronic book cover, according to the present invention, uses thesame traditional process for bookbinding, but the finished productserves as both an interactive novelty and a conventional book cover.

This improved cover for bookbinding is comprised of three maincomponents. The first is a supportive board used for binding a book withmultiple pages; comprised of a face, back, four side edges and at leastone void where the an active electronic device is installed. Theelectronic device has a rigid mount, which is fixed onto the void sothat the visible display can be read through the void. The secondcomponent is an elastic skin that covers the entire face and boardexcept for the void. The skin includes a keypad marked with variouscharacters and symbols which can be pressed to initiate the processingof preprogrammed functions by the electronic device. The third componentis a switch circuit with two distinct layers: the first dielectric filmlayer has rows and columns of checkered conductive sections facinginward towards the book cover, and the second dielectric film layer hasa pattern of disconnected electric contacts at locations facing theconductive sections and is superimposed in the keypad. A perforatedplanar spacer separates the two dielectric film layers until a personpresses the keypad, which makes an electrical contact between the secondfilm and the first film. The second dielectric film has a circuitpattern of electric bus that communicates with the electric contacts byconductive through-holes. The fourth component is a bottom sheet,approximately the same size of the board, which covers the back of theboard and elastic skin folds.

The electronic device holds a processing chip, printed circuit board,and battery (replaceable and/or solar) on the rigid mount. Thesupportive board and bottom sheet may be comprised of cardboardmaterials of different thicknesses, and the elastic skin may be anopaque rubber sheet. The numerical characters and symbols on the keypadmay be engraved, embossed or printed on the elastic skin. The dielectricfilms may be made of semi-rigid plastic sheets; each printed withconductive ink that provides circuit paths and contacts. The perforatedplanar spacer may be made of a sheet of sponge material with cutouts atperforations.

In addition to a calculator, the electronic device may also include adigital clock and calendar function. If the keypad is modified into“QWERTY” style, the electronic device serves as a media player thatrecords and reproduces audiovisual information.

The embodiments of the invention will now be exemplified with referenceto accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic book cover according tothe present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the book cover of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the book cover taken along line 3-3of FIG. 1 showing the interior of the calculator in relation to otherbook components.

FIG. 4 is an exploded cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG.1 to show the individual layers to make up the switch circuit in thebook cover.

Similar reference numbers denote corresponding features throughout theattached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

For illustrative purposes, the invention will be described in the formof an electronic calculator, although it may be adapted to includeclocks, calendars, LED signs, flash memory-based audio/video players,digital photo frames, and many other electronic commodities.

With reference to FIG. 1, an electronic book cover 10 of the presentinvention is made of thick cardboard and bound to a block 12 ofindividual sheets. A vertical line of punched holes or slits 14 near thebound edge 16 is coupled with a metal binding spine 18 that threads theslits 14, thus holding the sheets 12 together. This “comb-bound” type ofnotebook increased in popularity due to the advent of desktop publishingat home offices and has proven to be a relatively simple method ofbinding a book.

The traditional, more rigid method of binding a book cover 10 involves abook block divided by a number of signatures threaded by yarn, wire orcable. The spine is flexibly connected to the book covers and stitchedto the book block. In addition, glue is used to bolster the bond betweenthe parts of the book. The implementation of this method is solely amatter of aesthetic taste.

A soft skin 20 forms the exterior of the cover 10 except for a largeopening 22, though which a housing 24 for electronics is received. Thehousing 24 has a display window 26 for showing information such as thenumerical result of a calculator 28, and also doubles as the book cover10. The soft skin 20 may be made of a vinyl, leather or another likematerial, and it is marked with letters, numbers, and symbols 29. Thecharacters are engraved and/or printed on the face 20 so that a largemembrane keypad area 30 is formed adjacent to the display window 26.

In FIG. 2, the components of the book cover calculator 28 are describedin further detail. Under the area of the keypad 30, there is a thinmultilayer switch circuit 32. The thin multilayer switch circuit 32 isflexible and comprised of a first dielectric layer 34 with a localconductive cheker 36 positioned underneath and a second dielectric layer38 characterized by a double-sided conductive pattern. Facing oppositethe first layer 34 at its checker 36, the second layer 38 has multipleconductive comb patterns 40. The combs 40 are aligned with correspondingcharacters/symbols 29. Each comb 40 is made of two staggered rows ofteeth, which remain separated until a contact occurs between an islandof checker 36 that is positioned directly above the same teeth set.

A planar spacer 42 with rectangular perforations 44 is attached to boththe underside of first layer 34 and the opposing surface of second layer38. This setup yields two distinctive on-off switch positions, which liebetween first conductive checker 36 and second conductive combs 40. Aneconomical choice for the material of the planar spacer 42 is a sheet ofsponge with mutiple cut-outs.

On the opposing side of the second dielectric layer 38 lies a multiplecircuit bus 46, which is depicted by dotted lines that lead theswitching comb contacts 40 to an electronic unit 50. Typically, thedielectric characteristic of the layer 38 bars its opposing conductivepatterns from contact, but the strategic placement of multipleconductive holes 48 electrically communicate the opposite patterns.Depending on the circuit pattern for specific electronic functions, asection of circuit bus 46 may be connected by multiple comb contacts 40that share a connection area 52.

Bus 46 connects to an electronic processor 54, which serves to decipherthe numbers and operators inputted by the user via the keypad area 30.Processor 54 is connected to a printed circuit board (PCB) 55 andpowered by a battery 56 through wires 58. The battery 56 is accesiblethrough a slide-open door (not shown) installed in electronic unit 50for ease of replacement. An auxiliary solar battery 60 may also beconnected to the processor 54 to extend the life of the battery 56. Aprinted circuit 62 on PCB 55 is connected to a ribbon cable 64, which isthen connected to a display 65 for showing the user inputs at keypad 30and the calculation results of the processor 54.

The switch circuit assembly 32 and electronic unit 50 are bonded locallyto a rectangular cardboard 66 with a large rectangular thru-hole 68 forreceiving the electronic unit 50 next to the switch circuit 32. Unit 50can be made on a plastic substrate for supporting the processor 54 andbatteries 56, 60, and it typically has four corner screw posts 70. Unit50 is attached to cardboard 66 by a plate member 72 with four screwholes 74 that are aligned with the screw posts 70 of unit 50; a middleopening 76 exposes the display 65. Plate member 72 can be made about thethickness of paper and glued to the inner surface of cardboard 66.

On top of the switch circuit 32 and electronic unit 50, a soft skin 20is laid to extend slightly over the side edges of cardboard 66 so thatthe overhang may be folded at two rectangular lines 78, 79 around thecardboard edges. A bottom sheet 82 that is the same size of thecardboard 66 is glued to the bottom of the cardboard 66, and thuscovering the folded edges of soft skin 20.

FIG. 3 clearly shows in cross section the positional relations ofelectronic components of unit 50 in book cover 10, which is bound tobook block 12 complete with an opposite book cover 100.

A spiral binding spine 102 (partially shown) threads the entire book 1at the aligned slits 14 in order to tie the book 1 together. Theelectronic unit 50 rests in hole 68 of book cover 10 as the housing 24is fastened with a screw onto unit 50. Plate member 72 is thus clippedpermanently in place.

In FIG. 4, book cover 10 is shown in an expanded cross sectionperpective. This shows the connection between switch circuit 32 andelectronic unit 50, which includes first layer 34 and second layer 38.The two layers are normally electrically isolated by the interposedspacer 42, but a person can intimate contact between the layers 34, 38by pressing the soft key face 20 and one of the perforations 44. Thiscreates a key signal.

The key signal is transmitted by the conductive holes 48 to the bus 46,which leads to the electronic unit 50. The entire book cover 10 isstructurally supported by cardboard 66, over which a soft skin 20extends to form turned edges 104. Bottom sheet 82 is bonded to edges104, and the bottom of cardboard 66 completes book cover 10.

The electronic book cover is the presently preferred embodiment of theinvention, and it has been shown and described with severalmodifications thereof discussed. Persons skilled in this art willreadily appreciate that various additional changes and modifications maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as definedand differentiated by the following claims.

CALL OUT LIST OF ELEMENTS

-   1: Book-   10: Book Cover-   12: Book Block-   14: Slit-   18: Binding Spine-   20: Soft skin-   22: Opening-   24: Electronics Housing-   26: Display Window-   28: Calculator-   29: Character/Symbol-   30: Keypad Area-   32: Switch Circuit-   34: First Layer-   36: Checker-   38: Second Layer-   40: Comb Contact-   42: Spacer-   44: Perforations-   46: Bus-   48: Conductive Hole-   50: Electronic Unit-   52: Connection Area-   54: Processor-   55: PCB-   56: Battery-   58: Wire-   60: Solar Battery-   62: Printed Circuit-   64: Ribbon Cable-   65: Display-   66: Cardboard-   68: Thru-hole-   70: Post-   72: Plate Member-   74: Screw Hole-   76: Opening-   82: Bottom Sheet-   100: Back Cover-   102: Binding Spine-   104: Turned Edge

1. An electronic book cover comprising: a board for use in binding abook block having a plurality of writing sheets, the board having aface, a back, four side edges and at least one void to accommodate anactive electronic device installed therein; the electronic deviceincluding a rigid mount fixed onto the board about the void and having avisible display through the void; an elastic skin for covering the faceand a part of the board except the void, the skin having a keypad of keyareas marked with various characters and symbols to be typed into theelectronic device for processing preprogrammed functions; and a layeredswitch circuit mounted between the elastic skin and supportive board. 2.The electronic book cover of claim 1, wherein the elastic skin is madeof an opaque rubber sheet.
 3. The electronic book cover of claim 1,wherein the numerical characters and symbols are formed by embossing onthe elastic skin.
 4. The electronic book cover of claim 1, wherein thefirst and second dielectric films are made of semi-rigid plastic sheetsprinted with conductive ink to provide circuit paths and contacts. 5.The electronic book cover of claim 1, wherein the perforated planarspacer is made of a sheet of sponge with cutouts at perforations.
 6. Theelectronic book cover of claim 1, wherein the layered switch circuit hasa first dielectric film with rows and columns of checkered conductivesections facing inwardly of the book cover, a second dielectric film hasa pattern of disconnected electric contacts at locations facing theconductive sections and superimposing the key areas, and a perforatedplanar spacer for normally isolating the first and second dielectricfilms but yielding to typing depressions for locally making electricalcontacts at the second film by the first film and the second dielectricfilm also having at its opposite face a circuit pattern of electric buscommunicating with the electric contacts by conductive through-holes;and further comprising a bottom sheet of substantially the same size ofthe board for covering the back of the board as well as the elastic skinfolds therein.
 7. The electronic book cover of claim 6, wherein theelectronic device includes a processing chip, printed circuit board, areplaceable battery and/or a solar battery all mounted on the rigidmount.
 8. The electronic book cover of claim 6, wherein the supportiveboard and bottom sheet are provided by cardboard of different thickness.9. The electronic book cover of claim 6, wherein the elastic skin ismade of an opaque rubber sheet.
 10. The electronic book cover of claim6, wherein the numerical characters and symbols are formed by embossingon the elastic skin.
 11. The electronic book cover of claim 6, whereinthe first and second dielectric films are made of semi-rigid plasticsheets printed with conductive ink to provide circuit paths andcontacts.
 12. The electronic book cover of claim 6, wherein theperforated planar spacer is made of a sheet of sponge with cutouts atperforations.
 13. The electronic book cover of claim 6, wherein theelectronic device is a media player, which records and reproduces soundand visual information.
 14. An electronic calculator comprising: aboard, the board having a face, a back, four side edges and at least onevoid to accommodate an electronic calculating unit installed therein;the calculating unit having a processing chip, printed circuit board andat least one power source all mounted on a rigid housing fixed onto theboard about the void and having a visible display through the void; anelastic skin for covering the face and a part of the board except thevoid, the skin having a keypad of key areas marked with numericalcharacters and symbols to be typed into the electronic device forprocessing calculation functions; a layered switch circuit having afirst dielectric film with rows and columns of checkered conductivesections facing inwardly of the book cover, a second dielectric filmhaving a pattern of disconnected electric contacts at locations facingthe conductive sections and superimposing the key areas, and aperforated planar spacer for normally isolating the first and seconddielectric films but yielding to typing depressions for locally makingelectrical contacts at the second film by the first film and the seconddielectric film also having at its opposite face a circuit pattern ofelectric bus communicating with the electric contacts by conductivethrough-holes; and a bottom sheet of substantially the same size of theboard for covering the back of the board as well as the elastic skinfolds therein.
 15. The electronic calculator of claim 14, wherein thesupportive board and bottom sheet are provided by cardboard of differentthickness.
 16. The electronic calculator of claim 14, wherein theelastic skin is made of an opaque rubber sheet.
 17. The electroniccalculator of claim 14, wherein the numerical characters and symbols areformed by embossing on the elastic skin.
 18. The electronic calculatorof claim 14, wherein the first and second dielectric films are made ofsemi-rigid plastic sheets printed with conductive ink to provide circuitpaths and contacts.
 19. The electronic calculator of claim 14, whereinthe perforated planar spacer is made of a sheet of sponge with cutoutsat perforations.